Battery Voltage?

Davey1LE · 07-28-2022, 05:38 PM

Sorry if there is any thread of this…

Again I am still learning my car so sorry if the questions are stupid..

Since I’ve had my car the battery voltage has been directly in the middle showing at 14, today it was 2 hashes down and was fluctuating a lot..

Just curious if this is normal or why it is fluctuating and reading low?

Just trying to learn everything about it so don’t be hating.

Appreciate all the help from the forum so far! Absolutely loving the 1LE!

arpad_m · 07-28-2022, 09:45 PM

Davey, there is no issue with your car, the voltage gauge is a dual purpose "unit": when the alternator is charging the battery, it displays the charging voltage (~14-14.5V), otherwise it shows the actual battery voltage (~12.1-12.6V). I think this is what you interpreted as fluctuation.

The 1LE is a hoot indeed, congratulations

ember1205 · 07-29-2022, 06:20 AM

The gauge in the cluster is not your battery voltage. It's some sort of "mash up" of voltages in the charging system. And there is no rhyme or reason to what that gauge shows or when. If you're interested in knowing the actual voltage of the battery, get a good volt meter and test it periodically.

cjperformance · 07-29-2022, 07:03 AM

Ive heard that in these cars, the alternator doesnt constantly charge, unlike older cars where the alternator is constantly charging. It only charges when it needs to, or it can charge at different levels, to make the engine more fuel efficient. This difference in charging output is visible on the volt meter. When the alternator is generating electricity it puts a load on the engine which costs fuel.

Thats not to say there isnt a problem. It may or may not be in your case. If you have doubts, have your battery and alternator load tested.

18.2SS.1LE · 07-29-2022, 07:41 AM

Mine does the same, it's just regulating. Where in MD are you?

SSDan · 07-29-2022, 09:42 AM

I agree with the input from everyone else. It sounds like normal operation as mine has been moving around between 14v and 12v since day one. Now, six and a half years later nothing has changed and it charges the battery just fine.

Congrats on the new ride. Enjoy!

Camaro fanboy · 07-29-2022, 10:03 AM

yep same here. 7k miles. it fluctuates all over the place.

Davey1LE · 07-30-2022, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Davey, there is no issue with your car, the voltage gauge is a dual purpose "unit": when the alternator is charging the battery, it displays the charging voltage (~14-14.5V), otherwise it shows the actual battery voltage (~12.1-12.6V). I think this is what you interpreted as fluctuation.

The 1LE is a hoot indeed, congratulations

My man! I appreciate it! Was just curious but that makes total sense.

Davey1LE · 07-30-2022, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 18.2SS.1LE

Mine does the same, it's just regulating. Where in MD are you?

Im in Frederick MD, I work in Germantown MD. How about you?

18.2SS.1LE · 07-31-2022, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey1LE

Im in Frederick MD, I work in Germantown MD. How about you?

Gotcha, I'm down in Calvert County and work up in Annapolis.

snyder6805 · 09-07-2022, 10:56 AM

My 2022 2SS 1LE does the same thing. Glad to know it's not an issue. I just cleared 10,200 and it's done this since 15 miles. I daily drive this beast 100 miles a day and don't know how people drive boring cars to work every day.

JSH · 09-07-2022, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey1LE

Sorry if there is any thread of this…

Again I am still learning my car so sorry if the questions are stupid..

Since I’ve had my car the battery voltage has been directly in the middle showing at 14, today it was 2 hashes down and was fluctuating a lot..

Just curious if this is normal or why it is fluctuating and reading low?

Just trying to learn everything about it so don’t be hating.

Appreciate all the help from the forum so far! Absolutely loving the 1LE!

If you were to use HPT you would see that 12v go to 15v at WOT. At least mine does.

dmcmahan60 · 09-07-2022, 11:45 AM

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=564271

ctrlz · 09-07-2022, 12:50 PM

"Fluctuate" can mean different things. Yes, the voltage will change based on electrical demand, state of charge, and engine load.
But it should not be "bouncing around" making quick changes.

07-28-2022, 05:38 PM	#1
Davey1LE Drives: 2022 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 13	Battery Voltage? Sorry if there is any thread of this… Again I am still learning my car so sorry if the questions are stupid.. Since I’ve had my car the battery voltage has been directly in the middle showing at 14, today it was 2 hashes down and was fluctuating a lot.. Just curious if this is normal or why it is fluctuating and reading low? Just trying to learn everything about it so don’t be hating. Appreciate all the help from the forum so far! Absolutely loving the 1LE!

07-28-2022, 09:45 PM	#2
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,695 View My Garage	Davey, there is no issue with your car, the voltage gauge is a dual purpose "unit": when the alternator is charging the battery, it displays the charging voltage (~14-14.5V), otherwise it shows the actual battery voltage (~12.1-12.6V). I think this is what you interpreted as fluctuation. The 1LE is a hoot indeed, congratulations __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

07-29-2022, 07:03 AM	#4
cjperformance Drives: 2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Missouri Posts: 929	Ive heard that in these cars, the alternator doesnt constantly charge, unlike older cars where the alternator is constantly charging. It only charges when it needs to, or it can charge at different levels, to make the engine more fuel efficient. This difference in charging output is visible on the volt meter. When the alternator is generating electricity it puts a load on the engine which costs fuel. Thats not to say there isnt a problem. It may or may not be in your case. If you have doubts, have your battery and alternator load tested. __________________ 2017 50th Anniversary Edition \| P1X Stage 2 DSX Aux Low Side \| LT4 high side \| Flex Fuel TooHighPsi Port Injection (installed & tuning) CircleD 3K Stall \| QA1 CF Driveshaft Forgestar F14 Drag 17x10 NT555R2 305/45/17 Rear Forgestar F14 18x8 NT555G2 235/50/18 Front 10.84@131 w/4.13" pulley ??.??@??? w/3.7" pulley (installed & tuning)

07-29-2022, 07:41 AM	#5
18.2SS.1LE Drives: Chevrolet Camaro Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Maryland Posts: 134	Mine does the same, it's just regulating. Where in MD are you? __________________ Procharger P1X, CSP Big Boy Cam, CSP Headers, LT4 HPFP, LT4 Injectors, JMS BAP - 722WHP

07-29-2022, 09:42 AM	#6
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,246 View My Garage	I agree with the input from everyone else. It sounds like normal operation as mine has been moving around between 14v and 12v since day one. Now, six and a half years later nothing has changed and it charges the battery just fine. Congrats on the new ride. Enjoy! __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

07-29-2022, 06:20 AM	#3
ember1205 Hot Camaro Drives: '20 2SS Convertible 6MT Join Date: May 2020 Location: CT Posts: 3,534	The gauge in the cluster is not your battery voltage. It's some sort of "mash up" of voltages in the charging system. And there is no rhyme or reason to what that gauge shows or when. If you're interested in knowing the actual voltage of the battery, get a good volt meter and test it periodically.

07-29-2022, 10:03 AM	#7
Camaro fanboy Drives: 2017 2SS Arctic blue fully loaded Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: SWEDEN Posts: 880	yep same here. 7k miles. it fluctuates all over the place. __________________

09-07-2022, 10:56 AM	#11
snyder6805 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1	2022 battery gauge My 2022 2SS 1LE does the same thing. Glad to know it's not an issue. I just cleared 10,200 and it's done this since 15 miles. I daily drive this beast 100 miles a day and don't know how people drive boring cars to work every day.

09-07-2022, 11:45 AM	#13
dmcmahan60 Drives: 2017 SS Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 769 View My Garage	https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=564271

09-07-2022, 12:50 PM	#14
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,197	"Fluctuate" can mean different things. Yes, the voltage will change based on electrical demand, state of charge, and engine load. But it should not be "bouncing around" making quick changes.

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